View full sizeCourtesy of The Kalamazoo Convention & Visitor's Bureau.File photo of two street rodders driving their car past a packed grandstand at 2006 Street Rod Nationals North event at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds.KALAMAZOO — To keep the street rods and other shows here, the Kalamazoo County Expo Center & Fairground should undergo $3 million in upgrades, the county parks director said Tuesday.

David Rachowicz announced a plan that includes building a $2 million addition to the expo center that would add about 30,000 square feet of exhibition space.

The plan also involves removing the horse track around the grandstand, adding two new buildings for exhibition space and updating electrical work. Construction could begin in 2011.

The expansion, which is part of a master plan approved in 2006, is needed to retain the current shows and attract new events to the fairgrounds, the parks director said.

About 125 events from dog shows to private weddings to the annual National Street Rod Association’s Street Rod National North gathering are held at the fairgrounds on Lake Street, generating about $320,000 annually for the county.

To pay for the construction project, Rachowicz proposed using money from the 5 percent countywide hotel tax that is marked for capital improvements to the fairgrounds.

Between a fund balance and ongoing tax revenue, the parks department would have about $890,000 through 2011, Rachowicz said.

The rest of the money would either be commercially financed or borrowed from a county fund, although they have not determined which one, Rachowicz said.

Most members of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners seemed supportive of the plan, which was presented during Tuesday’s board meeting.

“This is not being supported by a property tax. We’re not asking for an accommodation tax increase,” said Commissioner Robert Barnard, D-Kalamazoo. “This is a good idea.”

The addition would serve as a main entrance for people entering the fairgrounds and would have restrooms, ticket windows and concessions.

“We’re missing that marquee entrance,” said Rachowicz of the current site. “(Visitors) don’t know where to go.”

He also proposed removing the horse track around the grand stand at a cost of about $150,000. The track is used for harness racing during the county fair.

“Horseracing for one day with 20 spectators is not a good use for that property,” Rachowicz said.

The plan would also tear down and replace two buildings to create 8,000-square-feet of vendor space. The new buildings are estimated to cost less than $200,000, Rachowicz said.

He also proposed tearing down the bathrooms in the grandstand and replacing them with new facilities in the expo center addition and portable toilets.